Fall is right around the corner and that means designers will be jetting off to international markets and shows in search of cutting edge design. Several tour companies have set up programs that can be added onto these jaunts—from exploring Decorex in London to antiquing in Belgium—that incorporate shopping, history and connecting with fellow designers.

Here’s a look at what you can expect this season:

Antiques Buying in Belgium, The Antiques Diva & Co.—September 10-11

Designers are invited to extend their stays in Paris after Maison & Objet this September to antique in the Belgian countryside where the bargains abound. Toma Clark Haines, CEO The Antiques Diva & Co, will take designers on an exclusive, all-inclusive, two-day group tour, departing from Paris at 7:00 a.m. on September 10 and returning back on the night of September 11.

Choreographed specifically for interior designers to build their little black book of sources, this intelligently-composed antiques buying tour takes guests off the beaten path to antiques warehouses, by-appointment-only stores, and to some of the best Belgian sources for buying abroad.

The tour price is 1,100 EURO per person (approximately $1,500 USD) The deadline to register is August 8. To RSVP and for more information, contact Haines via email.

In addition to this group tour, each weekend, The Antiques Diva & Co. will offer private one-on-one custom tours of the Paris Flea Market as well as further afield in eight countries including France, Belgium, England, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. By the end of the year tours in Switzerland, Portugal and Scotland will be added to the roster.

British Invasion, Design Trust and The Antiques Diva & Co—September 19–23

Steve Nobel of Nobelinks has teamed up with Haines for the latest edition of Design Trust, which will introduce designers to the top design events in the UK this fall including the London Design Festival, DECOREX and FOCUS at Chelsea Harbor.

Going further afield into the English countryside, this intimate group tour will help designers curate resources from British town and country, visiting country houses, historic castles and some of the top decorative antiques dealers in the Cotswolds and Sussex. Designers will learn how buying antiques abroad can increase their profit margin while also giving them a competitive edge in the marketplace.

“The real benefit for the participants in my groups is the people; collegiality is based on trusted relationships,” said Nobel. “We give interior designers the opportunity to make not only professional connections but, perhaps more importantly, to make personal connections. Profound connections are made in our groups that are life changing for our designers.” 

For further information or to register, contact Nobel at 917-648-4993.

William Lawrence Bottomley’s Richmond and More, Classical Excursions, September 25–28

Considered by both professionals and enthusiasts of classical architecture alike as a master of his profession, William Lawrence Bottomley’s name is synonymous with the best residential architecture in Richmond, Virginia. It is with this in mind that the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA)’s Classical Excursions hosts a tour of the Richmond area residences by this uncompromising perfectionist, from exterior design, interior ornamentation and decoration, to the surrounding landscape design.

Three-night accommodations have been arranged at the Berkeley Hotel, a boutique- style hotel in the European manner. The itinerary will begin Thursday evening, September 25, with an opening dinner and lecture by architectural historian Christopher Novelli of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, who will be the guide throughout the tour, and will end Sunday, September 28 at 12:30 pm.

Land cost is $1,750 per person; $300 single supplement; plus a fully tax-deductible $500 contribution to the Institute’s Annual Fund. For inquiries, contact Tom Hayes via email or at 413-243-4155.

Private Palaces, Villas & Gardens: Naples, Capri, Ravello, Herculaneum & Pompeii, Exclusive Cultural Travel Programs—October 18–26

Tour goers will be offered privileged access to sites of unparalleled historic importance and incomparable beauty in Naples, Capri, Ravello, Positano, Pompeii and Herculaneum—most listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Guided by expert lecturers, guests will discover admirable private palazzi and villas, monuments and museums to observe masterpieces of architecture, art, interior and garden design, as well as some of the world's foremost archeological sites. The group will be received by Italian nobility and esteemed members of the cultural elite for exclusive visits, luncheons, receptions and dinners in their remarkable private residences with marvelous gardens and views of the Bay of Naples.

Guests will stay at the 4-star luxury Hotel Excelsior on the Bay of Naples. The tour price is $7,500 per person double occupancy in Deluxe Double Sea-View rooms; $8,250 per person single occupancy in Superior Double City-View rooms; $8,500 per person single occupancy in Deluxe Double Sea-View rooms.

Exclusive Cultural Tour Programs will host two additional tours this fall, please contact Pamela Darling at +33 1 45 67 62 81 or via email for tour details or to register.

Private South Africa: Houses and Gardens of Cape Town and Beyond, Classical Excursions, November 1-8

Known for its magnificent scenery, the Cape of Good Hope region will open its doors to a hidden world of magnificent art and architecture. From the thatched and gabled manor houses of the 17th century Dutch settlers and the influence of the Dutch East India Company, to the mansions of the Rand Lords, this tour will encompass 250 years of colonial architecture.

The group will stay at the world famous Mount Nelson Hotel, located below the backdrop of Table Mountain. Tour goers will visit the famous botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch as well as three outstanding private gardens. The tour will take in private wine estates and art collections of some of the Cape’s great families. Guest lecturers and specialists in their fields such as Graham Viney, will also share the rich culture of South Africa with the group.

Land cost is $5,000 per person based on double occupancy; a single supplement of $1,000 applies. A tax-deductible donation of $500 is required, to be made payable to the ICAA by each participant.

Contact Lani Summerville at 413-446-8728 or via email to register for this tour. Immediate registration is suggested, as space is limited.